Report: Nets Have Interest In DeMarcus Cousins

The New Jersey Nets, who have struggled without star big man Brook Lopez early on this season, are interested in Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins, according to ESPN New York.

Cousins, 21, has had an even more tumultuous 2011-12 with the Kings than he did his rookie season. Most recently, he made headlines when Kings head coach Paul Westphal asked Cousins to stay home on the club’s latest road trip after the he said Cousins demanded a trade.

Cousins’ agent told SI.com that the second year big man had not in fact requested a trade, and Kings co-owner Joe Maloof told the media that the team was not looking to trade him.

The Kings drafted Cousins with the No. 5 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. In his rookie season he averaged 14.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.